Steam curling iron



Dec. 10, 1929. J. c. MURRAY STEAM CURLING- IRON 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Filed Oct. 26. 1927 Dec. 10, 1929. J. c. MURRAY- STEAM CURLING IRON Filed Oct. 26, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i w I, jig HEILEYNT R ATTORNEYS Fatentecl Dec. 10, 1929 UNITED STATE3 JOHN C. MURRAY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO,

ASESIGNOR TO THE NESTLE-LE M'UR 0011* PANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CQRPOR-ATION OF OHIO STEAM CURLING IRON Application filed. October 26, 1927. Serial No. 228,747.

This invention relates to apparatus for curling hair.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus by which heat and moisture may be applied to hair.

Another object is to provide apparatus which will be convenient to operate.

Another object is to provide an improved method of curling hair.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention itself will be better understood from the description of two practical embodiments thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of appa "atus embodying the invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are transverse sections thereof taken, respectively, on the lines HH and HI-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4: is a perspective view of two of the devices of Figure 1 connected with other parts of the apparatus,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing a modified embodiment of the in vention.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of modified form embodying my invention, and

Figure 7 is a side elevation of still another modification.

The apparatus comprises a curling iron somewhat similar in general structure to the ordinary curling irons which have long been in use and heated by flames or by electricity. The apparatus of Figure 1 comprises a main frame 1 to which is attached a fixed handle 2 preferably of heat insulating material and a pivoted handle carrying arm 3 having a handle 4 also of heat insulating material at one end and, pivoted on the other end, a guard or shoe 5. The shoe overlies a tube 6 shown as threaded into the frame 1 and closed at its outer end by a nose or plug 6. Extending through the handle 2 and serving to sup port the same is a tube 7 provided with a hose connection 8 at its outer end and threaded into the frame 1 at its inner end, so that the handle is clamped between the frame and hose connection. A bore 9 extending longitudinally through frame 1 is in communication with tubes 6 and 7. Extending through the frame and intercepting the bore 9 is a trans verse bore 10 in which is situated a valve 11. The valve consists of a cylindrical member provided with an annular groove 11 which is adapted to be aligned with the inner ends of the bore 9 and to establish or break communication between tubes 6 and 7. The outer end of the valve is provided with a knob 12 of heat-insulating material, by which the valve may be actuated and the valve is held in its upper or closed position by a spring 13 within recesses in the frame and knob. The lower end of the valve is provided with an enlarged head 1a which engages projections 15 upon the pivoted arm 3, so that when the valve is forced down and the head engages the lower side of these projections, the pressure thereon will hold both the valve open and the supporting arm in position with its shoe close against the tube 6.

The shoe 5 is channel-shaped in cross-section with the edges extending inwardly, shown in Fig. 3, and has within it an inner shoe 16, both preferably of spring metal, for instance spring bronze. These shoes, in being moved toward tube 6, frictionally engage coils of hair wound on the tube, pulling them against the tube and maintaining them under tension as well as pressing them upon the tube.

A row of perforations 17' extend longitudinally of the tube in alignment with the central part of the shoes.

A. steam hose 18 connects part 8 to a manifold 18 or the like of a boiler 19 or other source of steam. This boiler is shown as provided with a burner 20, pressure gauge 21, water glass 22, and filling spout 23, but may be of any desired construction.

A steam trap may be provided at or near the connection 8, if desired to remove water formed by condensation in the hose.

The operation of the device is as follows:

F irst, steam is generated in the boiler. The hair is laid across the perforated part of tube 6 or it may, if desired be wound upon the tube in a manner similar to that in the use of an ordinary curling iron or flat or twisted as separated which allows the valve to close, and

' the device is removed.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 5, the apparatus consists of a tube 24, corresponding in general to tube 6 of the device of the preceding figure, which is connected at its inner end to the casing of a valve 25, tothe other side of which a steam V hose 26 isattached. Tube 24 is provided with 20 aseries ofper'forations 2'? extending along its upper surface and is closed at its outer end. Adjacent the tube and parallel therewith is a shoe 28 provided with leaf spring 29 and a contact piece 30, preferably of rubher or other resilient material, these parts acting in the manner of shoes 5 and 16 above described, to press the hair wound upon the tube against the perforated portions thereof .to' stretch it therearound, the distance between the edges of a strip normally being less than the diameter of a tube. Crossed handles 31 and '32 are pivoted together at 33 and the fend of one is pivoted to the tube and that of the'other to the shoe as at 34. These handles are slotted at 35 for the reception of pins 36 carried by the tube and shoe, these slots being so positioned with respect to the pivots that the shoe and tube always remain parallel. A

j valve stem 37 by which the valve is actuated, 40

extends from the casing 25 and is held in extended position by a spring within the casing.

This stem is in alignment with and adapted to be engaged by an abutment 38 carried on handle 31 so that when the handles are pressed together the valve is automatically opened, admitting steam from hose 26 to tube 24, through the perforations of which it passes heating and steaming the hair as in the apparatus first described.

In Figure 6 a form of apparatus is shown in which thesteam is conducted by hose 39 directly into the end of the tube 40, which corresponds to the tube 6 above described, instead of being passed through the handle, and thus eliminates a considerable portion of the heat at the hand of the operator. A valve '41 is positioned at the end of the tube and may be held within a cap 42 to which the steam hose 39 is connected. The valve has an elongated stem 43 reaching to within a frame 44, which is secured to the tube 40 and is provided with a handle 45, where the valve stem may be actuated by a knob or button 46. The

shoe 47, together with the part connecting it to its operating handle 48, is substantially the same as those disclosed in Figures 1 to 3.

The apparatus shown in Figure 7 differs from those above described in that the bandles are readily detachable from the rest of the apparatus so that after the hair has been steamed, the handles, hose, and so forth, may be disconnected therefrom while the tube and shoe are left clamped thereon until the hair has dried or cooled sufliciently to insure a permanent set. In this modification a tube 49 is shown as provided with a pin 50 adapted to engage a bayonetslot 51 formed in the end of a tubular sleeve carried by a handle 52, and receiving steam through the handle from a hose 54. The passage of steam through the handle is controlled by a valve (not shown) actuated by a knob 55 in a manner similar to those above described.

he shoe 56 is carried by an arm 57, pivoted at 58 to tube 49, and having struck out lugs 59 engageable with depressions in the side of the tube to retain the parts in closed position. Lugs or projections 60 extend beyond the arm at the end nearest the handles and are adapted to be received in the bifurcated end 61 of an actuating; handle or lever 62, so that the handles need only be slipped over the ends of the tube and arm, the sleeve being given a slight rotation to engage the pin in the bayonet slot, and the device may then be operated as those above described. After the steaming operation has taken place, the handles may be removed and the hair allowed to dry or cool, being retained by the tube and shoe. The handles may in the meantime be used with other elements each consisting of a tube and shoe, so that a number of strands of hair may be cooling or drying at the same time.

While I have described the illustrated embodiments of my invention in some particularity, obviously many variations and modifications thereof will readily occur to those skilled in the art to which it appertaius, and I do not therefore limit myself to the precise structure shown and described but claim as my invention all the embodiments thereof coming within the scope of the subjoined claims. I

What is claimed. is:

1. Apparatus for curling hair comprising a tube closed at the end, perforations along one side thereof, a shoe resiliently movable with respect to the tube for pressing hair thereupon, a source of steam connected to the interior of said tube and a valve controlling the admission of the steam to the tube.

2. Apparatus for curling hair comprising a tube closed at the end, aerforations along one side thereof, a resilient channel-shaped shoe the edges of which are normally closer than the diameter of the tube movable with respect to the tube for pressing hair thereupon. against said perforated side, a source of steam connected to the interior of said tube and a valve controlling the admission of the steam to the tube, said valve comprising control means adapted for coaction with said shoe and said tube.

3. Apparatus for curling hair comprising a tube closed at its outer end and having a row of perforations extending along one side only thereof, a handle fixed to the tube, a lever pivoted for motion toward and from the tube and also provided with a handle, a spring shoe pivoted to the lever and adapted to be pressed upon the tube by movement of the handles towards each other and adapted to overlie the row of perforations, the shoe being of channel shape and the edges closer together than the outer diameter of the tube, a source of steam connected to the tube, and a valve controlling the admission of steam to the tube interposed in said connection, said valve comprising a stem extending transversely through said tube handle, and an enlargement on the lower end of said stem, projections on said lever handle adapted to en-- gage said enlargement when said tube handie and lever handle are pressed together and when said valve is open.

4. Apparatus for curling hair comprising a tube closed at its outer end and having a row of perforations extending along one side only thereof, a handle fixed to the tube, a lever pivoted for motion toward and from the tube and also provided with a handle, a spring shoe pivoted to the lever and adapted to be pressed upon the tube by movement of the handles towards each other and adapted to overlie the row of perforations, the shoe being of channel shape with its edges normally closer together than the outer diameter of the tube, a source of steam connected to the tube and the valve controlling the ad mission of steamto the tube interposed in said connection and means for retaining the shoe in hair-clamping position, and the valve in communication establishing position, said means comprising a valve stem transverse to the tube handle, an enlarged head on the lower end thereof, projections on said lever handle adapted to be engaged by said head when said valve is open, a spring connected to said valve adapted to urge said handles together when said projections and head are engaged.

in testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 17th day October, 1927.

JOHN G. MURRAY. 

